The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, 1st NOVEMBER, 1901 THE ADMIRALTY AND THE PORT OF BLUFF.

Southland Times, Issue 15083, 1 November 1901, Page 2

The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, Ist NOVEMBER, 1901 THE ADMIRALTY AND THE PORT OF BLUFF.

The most cordial interest will be taken by the people of Invercargill and Southland in tho representations which are being made with the object of improving the status of the Blutf Harbour upon the Admiralty records. It will be remembered that the difference of opinion between the Government of this colony and the Admiralty aa to the safety and capacity of the Bluff became pronounced when the transport Tugus was lying at Albany on her voyage to New Zealand with the Fourth and Fifth Contingents. The reception of the troops was tixed to take place at Invercargill, and the Minister of Defence naturally wished to have theTagus ordered direct to the Bluff. The Home authorities refused, and in consequence of that refusal the contingents were subjected to the disagreeable ordeal of transhipment from the Tagus at Port Chalmers iuto the s.s. lalune and Tutanekai and a voyage back to the Bluff. The resistance of the Admiralty to all the pressure that Mr Seddon could bring to bear upon them was based upon tlie expert advice of the Hydrographer of the Admiralty that " Bluff Harbour was an inconvenient and dangerous place for a vessel of the lengtn aud tonnage of the Tagus." At the instance of Mr Seddon tho Agent General, Mr W. P. Reeves, armed himself with facts and figures showing the dimensions and tonnage of the Tyser, Shaw Savill, and Kew Zealand Shipping Company steamers which regularly visited the Bluff and waited upon the Director-General of Transports and tlie Junior Lord of the Admiralty. Mr Reeves suggested that the information on which the expert advisers of the Admiralty had relied probably dated some time back, and that recent improvements in the harbour had removed all objections. He urged the advisableness of taking the opinion of the great mercantile houses who used the port of Bluff, and whose headquarters were in London, on tbe question whether it would be safe to take a steamer of the size of the Tagus into the harbour. In spite of the array of hard facts against the decision of the Hydrographer, the Admiralty (irmly declined to deviate from his advice, and supported their determination with the objections of the owners of the Tagus, who also considered the Bluff "dangerous" for their vessel. The Premier, in a communication to the Agent-General, protested vigorously against the immoveable misconceptions of the Admiralty. He reprehended "this outrageous condemnation of one of our best ports," ard added that the "Government of New Zealand demand an enquiry into the circumstances." These negotiations over the Tagus, of which we have given the essence, show clearly that the Bluff is practic ally disrated as a naval port. His Majesty's ships are not permitted to visit the Bluff because the Hydrographer of the Admiralty has an antiquated chart of the port upon which he frames his advice. Nor has the fact that .hips a thousand tons larger than the Tagus, and of deeper draught and larger dimensions all over, have steamed in and out of the Bluff heavily laden for years past any weight with the expert when he is asked to sanction the ordering of a transport to the port It would seem, therefore, that the only hope of convincing the Lords of the Admiralty that their cxi art's ideas of the port of Bluff are grossly erroneous lies in a vigorous statement of the true conditions by the Government of this colony to the Imperial Government. That this is about to be made is clearly established by recent acts on tho part of the Premier and the Marine Department, At the last meeting of the Bluff Harbour Board the request of the Depart ment for full information as to the size of vessel that the port could admit was promptly acceded to, and appended to the required particulars was an expression of the Board's desire that the strongest efforts should be made to secure that the Bluff shall be put on the Admiralty rating to which it is entitled. How absurd was the contention of the Admiralty Hydrographer that the Bluff way "inconvenient and dangerous "' for tho Tagua was demonstrated by one item alone of the information compiled by the Board's secretary, viz. : that during the last two years no less a number than 167 steamers of equal or greater tonnage than the Tagus had entered and left Bluff harbour without mishap. Since then the Right Hon. tho Premier, from his place in Parliament, has practically invited the Harbour Board to request him to make representations to his Excellency the Admiral of the Australian station to the effect that the Bluff is being unjustly treated by the naval authorities. It may be taken for granted that the Harbour Board will not neglect to respond promptly and heartily to this invitation. There is, therefore, every prospect of breaking down the adamantine ideas of the Hydrographer to the Admiralty and establishing the reputation of! the port of Southland with the highest naval authorities of the Empire. The case for the Bluff is unanswerable,?md supported by a vigilant Harbour Board, and such influential and determined advocates as the Premier and Sir Joseph Ward, that just recognition of the safety and capacity of the port which is so greatly to be desired should not be very much longer withheld.

C.E. Union-.-- The Rev. H, Kelly, of Auokland (formorly of Southland), president of the N.Z. C.E. Union, is expected in Invercargill next week, and he will address the anuual gathering of the Southland Union. The executive meet this evening to make arrangements. Customs and Excise. — The Customs duties for October, collected at the local office, amounted to £6465 10s 4d, an increase of £S_9 7s as compared with the corresponding month of last year ; as beer duty £IS_ ' 4s 3d was collected, a decrease of £1 18s 3d compared with October, HIOO. To Com i-etitors.-— Those who have prepared answers in connection with Mr E. 13. Jones's competition should notice that their replies must be sent iv to-day at the latest. Mr Jonos has been inviting answers to the question " Why is Jones's Honey l'er.-toral so popular ?"' and he offers prize" of i'l, los and lO.s for the three answers whicli please him most. OI'KNINi, OK THK Rowi.i: .Ska.. on. —The openiug of the rowing season will take place this evening, weather permitting. Tlie:*e will bo a procession of bouts hy the Railway and Invercargill Clubs at 73') p.m. It is the intention of somu crews to illuminate their boats as on former occasions. Bknickit En'trht.wnmknt. — From au advertisement which appears in the amusement coiumn of thia issue it will be seen that a benefit is to be tendered to Mr Geo. Raynor in Ashley's Hall to-night. The entertainment will take the form of a concert and dance. The advertisement states that a good programme of sentimental and comic songs has been prepared, that Mr Raynor will perform some contortion feats, and that a dance will be given as a finale. At the conclusion of the entertainment the dance will begin. Hospital Concert.— On Tuesday evening a very pleasant concert was given in the hospital for the entertainment of the patients, who thoroughly appreciated the efforts of the performers to hi i^hii-u their daily lot. The singers were Miss Royd.. and Messrs J. L. Watson, J. Porteou. and Allan (Begg and Co.); Mr J. A. xMitchell gave a recitation, and Mrs Emerson played the accompaniments. The piano was kiudly lent by Messrs C. Begg and Co. AyUATics. —The first heat of the trial fours of tho Invercargill Club for Mr Thompson's trophies will be rowed on Saturday at 6 p.m. by crews stroked by Morton and Matthews, and the second heat at 7 p.rn by crews stroked by McGavock and iJasstian. Thk Coi'ntv Council Case.— The hearing of the case Southland County Council v Duncan King (Winton), claim £8 ss, alleged over-charge on road work done, was continued on Tuesday. The iragistrate, Mr S E. McCarthy, will on Saturday visit the locality to inspect the road ami culverts, and on Thursday the hearing will be resumed when the evidence of the defendant, who is the last witness, will be taken. Not Gknehai.lv Known.— The Minister of Lands has been advised by the SolicitorGeneral that there ia no limit to the time within which a perpetual leaseholder may acijuire tho freehold. Cricket. — Iv the nratch playod on Wednesday between the Waikiwi and Norihcrn Star Chilis the former won by 40 runs, Waikiwi compiling "■">, Northern Stat 3.5. The highest scorers for the winners were Geo. Fraser 11), XV. Harris 13, R. Gardiner 10, while A. Lawson, with 20, put up the highest score among the losers. For Waikiwi J. Robertson captured 3 wickets for 13 and G. Fraser 2 lor 11. Kntehtaismevtand Prkskntation. — The Britannia Football Club's gathering on luesday evening was voted the best since the inception of these functions by the club, while tho ball will bo long remembered by the 60 couples who danced until three in the morning. During an interval Vice-President F. Bastings performed a pleasing ceremony. In testimony of the goodwill in which Mr C. I'urdue is held by his club mates he presented him with a gold medal, suitably inscribed , as a memento of his being select od from the club to represent New Zealand against New South Wales. Whcuthe plaudits had ceased, Charlie briefly thanked the donors for their handsome gift, which was mado by Mr Ashton, jeweller. The music supplied by Mrs Blue and Mrs Wood gave great pleasure to the dancers. In Bankruitcv. — A meeting of creditors in the estate of E. Matheson, junr, storekeeper, Otautau, was held in the Deputy Official Assignee's office yesterday. There were present Messrs E. Matheson, senr, J. Kirk (J. Kirk and Co), J. Mcllwrick (Tothill, Watson and Col. Mrs harden J. Taylor (Otautau), F. Scandrett (New Zealand Loan aud M.A. Co), F. Matheson (Matheson and Co), M. McNeilage (Broad, Small and Co), Brebner (Bing, Harris and Co), and Barlow (G. McKenzie and Co). Mrj. Macalister appeared forthe debtor. The total liabilities amounted to £2317, the largest creditor being E. Matheson, senr, who claimed for £1 1 14, representing bills endorsed for, and cash advanced to the debtor. The assets were shown at £878, leaving a deficiency of £loOS. Examined on oath the debtor said he had been in business since 1895. He had no capital to start on. He hod taken stock in 1897, 1898 and 1900. In 1897 his assets and liabilities just about balanced. He then owed his father about £900. In ltt_-_ he was uot far behind. He called a meeting of hia creditors and they accepted bills extending over two years. The bdls were endorsed by his father. He had paid all the promissory notoa except about £100. In 1899 he went back a good deal and an arrangement which had heen proposed fell through. He had no proposal to mako. All his accounts were trade accounts. Mr E. Matheson, senr, offered £360, on terms, for the assets in the estate. The otter was accepted and the meeting adjourned.